I'm building a dual processor workstation using Dual AMD Athlon MP 1600+

with Tyan Tiger S2460 MB with 1GB ECC DDRAM.

My question is, the CPU temperature is contsantly around 78*C
Is this normal? I thought it was the retail HSF but I got a really good HSF and it's the same.. the temperature is still at 78*C

Thanks in advance for your technical expertise.

thats not too bad for an athlon MP, they run pretty hot no matter what type of HSF you put on them. Just make sure you have good exhaust fans :)

That's a great temp (Just make sure the sensor your reading off of is correct as well :))....

The new Athlons burn really hot.... Anything under 100 is considered acceptable for most cases....

I guess I'm used to the Intel Chip... Phew!!! I was scared..

...so much for the expensive HSF.... same temp.. :)

Also.. anyone know why when I put the Shim on.. the computer doesnt even boot up?...

Is it an Intel chip?...

if so... Are you putting thermal paste on it?...

b/c if you don't the heat won't radiate properly from the cpu to the heatsink... If so, Intel chips will downclock themselves (to 0Mhz if need be) to protect themselves (one plus over AMD chips)... This could be your reason...

It is the same AMD CPU that I was asking about overheating above.. when putting the shim on... ... after detecting the HD.. it just sits there...

but when removing the shim, everyting is back to normal.

Thats pretty weird... Usually the shim doesn't effect the CPU that much....

Just a couple of maybe's...

When you put the heat sink on did you jostle the shim out of place?

You can always try to put thermal paste on to increase heat conductivity.

During boot, try to see if you can get into BIOS and let it sit for a minute (watching the Temperature levels in BIOS, if it supports it) if it doesn't freeze then, it's obviously a BIOS config problem. But, that doesn't explain why it works properly w/out the shim.... Just a weird hardware issue....


Just thought of something... Is the shim home made or a purchased one... Just make sure the shim isn't a conductive surface... If it is then that could be causing problems by making contacts on the surface of the chip.

The shim is a thermatake shim.

the direction said to remove the protective liner before installed... I did that.. I guess it became conductive? then why did they said to remove the liner?

You remove the liner to increase thermal conductivity. The liner is also there to protect it from nicks and scratchs (which also decrease thermal conductivity). In all honesty companies shouldn't sell electrictly conductive shims. Get or borrow or buy and return a conductivity tester (not a volt-meter) and see if it conducts electrcicty. If it does return it and ask for one that doesn't. If it doesn't conduct, then I'm lost again..

Studio64.. Thanks!

but i'm lost..

copper is a very conductive element.. why would they make them copper? because ti does have a high conductivity.. arhg :)

Along w/ having good electric conductivity copper also has great heat conductivity (thats why they make heat sinks out of it too). Also it's cheap and easy to work w/.....

Some makers coat them w/ a non-conductive coating.... But, why do they do it?...Money...

This would be a good thing to try. Thermal paste (if you don't know what it is, I'll tell ya) is a non-conductive high-heat transfer properties as well.... So if you put that over the chip and under the shim (e.g. CHIP -> Paste -> Shim -> Heatsink) that could stop the electric conductivity b/twn the chip and the shim, if that's the problem.

thanks.. I'll try..

DynastyHost...

78C for an athlon is a bit to hot, even for a server application. 50-60C is ideal for a server application on those athlons. AMD states that in workstations the temp should be 60C or below. At home 40C or below is ideal. What type of fans are you using?

I'm really sorry about me confirming that your temperature is at a decent level.... I was thinking in terms of F.... Yes... @ 70C that is hot :D..... Arggg.. Stupid metric system :)

Vigor.. I'm usign 3 80MM fans and 1 huge fans on the front.
I could not get them to coem down no matter what I do.

My AMD 1.4 cpu runs about 110-135F (~43-57C). I had to underclock my CPU today as it reached close to 150F (~65C). The heat index here was up to 110F (~43C) plus my computer being in my desk also tends to keep the system temp higher.

I have 1 intake, 2 exhaust (not counting PSU fan) 1 cpu fan, and an internal fan to get the air flowing more.

My computer is for home use (that doesnt mean I dont push it to its limits ;)) and it generally runs for 2 days before I reboot it. Not bad for a windows machine huh? :)

Single CPU is different from Dual MP.
Anyone have any experience about this?

Originally posted by DynastyHost
Single CPU is different from Dual MP.
Anyone have any experience about this?

What type of heat sink fans are you using. It sounds like you have good case cooling in effect. Some minor recommendations, if you can use them.

Active Memory Cooler
Active Hard Drive Cooler

Heats transfer throughout the case, cooling other components down may reduce CPU temps.

However on those AMD MP's in dual configuration, use OZC Gladiator fans, they seem to be the number one fan in dual athlon configurations.

The OCZ Gladiator is an A+ idea. You should be under 50C. You need 7200+rpm exhaust fan and at least 2 good intake fans depending on the case. A good draft thru the case will nock off 5C. Dual MPs will be hotter, but not that hot. I've never had an XP run over 44C no matter what the load. An MP should not be much hotter. Also use a good thermal paste not the pads that come on the heatsink. Scrape it off and clean with alcohol before applying the new. If your over 55C, the life of your processor will be drastically reduced and at 78C, you won't run long.

I'd also get rid of the shims...just be careful installing the heatsink!

Have anyone had a Dual MP? I want to hear from the actual person using it. Tell me what temp youi're getting. I have done a lot of research and I got mix response.

This forum is about two weeks old, but I found this in a search and wanted to chip in my comments.

I have a dual Athlon MP box too (Athlon 1600s - 1.4 GHz). I have different heatsinks on each (because, being the genius I am, I managed to jam a fan with an IDE power cable... The CPU survived, but the heatsink didn't.)

One runs around 43 Celsius, the other hovers right around 50 degrees Celsius. I asked a guy in a computer store who told me that it was absurdly hot, and that CPUs should be around 30 at most. (I'm not so sure that he was entirely credible though.)

It's good to hear that other people stay around 50, too. My system is pretty unstable, but I believe it's something software related, not heat related. (It used to crash almost on schedule... I think it's a known bug.)

My server was a single CPU Athlon XP 2200+ (yes it is single, but still fast as hell). Last week I was doing heat tests. In the hot @#$ Sacramento weather with a crapped out AC, the CPU was maxing out at 48C in peak temperatures with load.

I would definitely recommend the Thermaltake Volcano 7 HSF. It is pretty loud, but very effective.

And the guy that said 30C was the normal range was way wrong. AMD supposidely tested the Athlons up to insane temperatures (like 70-80C) and they were stable (or atleast no CPU damage). 50-60 with load is the norm.